57. Confidence
Little Johnny Whitaker was rambling down the alleyway on his way to the Saturday afternoon baseball game with his buddies. Bat, mitt and ball in hand, White Sox cap on head, he was ready for the big game!
“Johnny ‘Blue Eyes’ Whitaker, best hitter in the world!” he called out as he pitched himself the ball ten feet in the air.
He swung, he spun around, kicking up a cloud of dust and… thud! The ball lies on the ground. He missed.
“Stee-rike! Shouted the umpire. The crowd couldn’t believe their eyes!”
Johnny brushed off the dust, got to his feet and steadied himself for the next pitch.
“Here comes the pitch, the swing…No! He misses! The crowd goes into a frenzy! No one can believe it.”
“Two strikes, no balls, Johnny Blue Eyes up to bat, greatest batter in the known universe!”
Johnny threw the ball up in the air, wound back and swung like his life depended on it. He spun around, dust rising, the ball just lie there… plopped on the ground…unhit! He missed!
“The crowd hushed into stunned silence.”
Johnny got to his feet, brushed off the dust, picked up his baseball and tossed it a couple times in the air, chewing his gum announcing:
“Johnny Blue Eyes Whitaker, world’s greatest pitcher!”
Confidence is a human art. It is the art of resilience and bounce-back. It is a grace, a finesse. Being able to smile in the face of adversity. It is picking oneself up ‘by the bootstraps’ and summoning the courage to move on undaunted by the mistakes of the past.
Confidence is being able to recognize one’s mistakes as a part of the training. It is having the humility to see one’s shortfalls as opportunities for self-forgiveness, growth and improvement.
True genius and brilliance come by merit, not by luck. Confidence is doing what comes naturally whilst challenging oneself to greater versatility.
It takes a challenge – something to rub up against to win confidence. It grows with being willing to try new things.
Confidence is contagious! Instead of talking about something, show it, play it, do it – be it! Then your students can catch the way of it!
Confidence in one area is still confidence, and once that way blooms, it can bloom in many other areas of a life. A success, even a small success leads to many many more.
It is doing what you love to do and believing in it fully. Love and belief are the keys to true confidence. Inspire it in yourself and it will naturally overflow to others.
I once asked a 12 year old – what season of the year he loved best? His confident response was – “Whichever season I’m in!” Yes!
You can hear a confidence inspired song “Confidence” here
~PAZ
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